Apparatus for automatically impregnating or saturating strawboard, paper, and like containers



A. E. SH| RLO W. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IMPREGNATING 0R SATURATING STRAWBOARD, PAPER,

AND LIKE CONTAINERS. ATPLICATION FILE'D NOV.2, 191s.

1,364,648. Patented Jan. 4; 1921.

Per

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT EDWARD SHIRLOXV, OF GLEN HUN TLY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGN-OR 'TO JAMES CLASON GATES, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IMPREGNATING OR SATURATING STRAWBQABD, PAPER, AND LIKE CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed November 2, 1918. SerialNo. 260,857.

T 0 all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that LALBERT EDWARD SHIR- OW, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Flower street, Glen Huntly, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Automatically Imregnating or saturating Strawboard, aper, and like Containers, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic apparatus for impregnating or saturating strawboard, paper, and like containers in wax solution and for subsequently hardeningI and delivering the said containers;

his invention has been devised in order to provide apparatus whereby the impregnation or' saturation of the containers in wax and the subsequent drying and delivery thereof is automatically carried out in one continuous operation and in a simple and effective manner, as in my copending application Serial No. 260,85

An essential feature-embodied in the invention consists in. the use of a series of cages or holders for the containers constructed of netting or'other perforated material and mounted upon spaced driven endless traveling belts or chains, the cages be ingadapted during their travel on the lowest plane, to pass. within and along a bath of heated wax solution, and then subsequently at an angle in a furtherportion of its travel to allow of the drying of the containers in the cages, means being provided whereby the cages-at the end of the diagonal travel are tripped or turned at substantially right angles to the normal vertical traveling position to allow of the holding lid of each cage to swingclear, so freeing the containers which 'fallby gravity into a receiver or chute and means are embodied at the forward end of the apparatus whereby the lid is partially raised to allow of the feeding of the containers into their respective cages before immersion in the heated wax solution.

A further essential. feature consists in pivotally suspending the cages to their traveling belts or chainsin such-a manner that after the immersion of the containers in the cages in hot wax and immediately after drying, the cages are tripped or caused to assume a position at an angle to allow of the opening of the holding lid and the delivery by gravity of the containers.

A further essential feature consists in the pivotlng of the lid of each cage and fitting the same with arms adapted to engage with guldes at the front of the apparatus whereby the lid is automatically raised to allow of the feeding of the containers into the cages.

The invention consists therefore, in the combination of a frame, a bath positioned along the length thereof for receiving wax, mechanical means-for raising and lowering the bath, means such as burners or superheated steam for heating and maintaining thewax'at a desired temperature, a plurality of cages arranged transversely of the frame and pivoted to spaced endless carrying belts or chains, means for automatically opening the cage lids as they pass vertically down the front end of the frame, and means for automatically tripping the cages to allow the hinged lids thereof to open and deliver by gravity the waxed and dried containers.

The basic principle underlying the invention consists in the use of automatic mechanical means for impregnating or' saturating strawboard, paper or like containers in heated wax solution, subsequently hardening the impregnated hontainers', and automatically delivering the hardened containers.

In carrying this principle into practical effect the preferred mechanism will now be described.

Figure l is a view in vertical central section of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line aa Fig. 1.

v Fig. 3 is a View in perspective illustrating the holder or cage for the containers.

Figs; 4 and 5 illustrate automatic mechanism for opening the cage lid, and for, delivering the saturated. and dried containers.

According to this invention a suitable rectangular frame or base 1 is provided with cross supports 2 on either side of the center carrying threaded rods 3 provided with a worm wheel 4, the worm wheel 4 of each rod 3 gearing with a centrally and transversely disposed worm 5 on a shaft 6 operated by hand or power.

This mechanism is adapted to raise or lower the rectangular tank or reservoir 7 containing the wax, the tank 7 being supported on the threaded rods 3 and is adapted to work in the angle pieces 8 at each corner of the rectangular frame.

The wax in the tank 7 may be heated by burners 9 arranged under and supported by the tank 7, but preferably by a superheated steam coil or coils (not shown) arranged in or upon the bottom of the tank.

The forward end of the frame is fitted with a feeding platform 10 while the rear end is fitted with a delivery chute or platform of perforated or other material 11.

Projecting from the front of the frame and on both sides thereof are vertical supports 12 while supports 13 arranged at an angle and extending rearwardly and up wardly are formed upon or fitted to the rear of the frame.

The front supporting members 12 at their top and bottom are fitted in line with each other with. upper and lower spindles 14c, 15, the upper spindle being mounted in adjustable bearings 16 adapted to adjust the tension of endless chains 17 passing around sprockets 18 fitted to the spindles 14s, 15 immediately inside the supporting members on both sides of the frame, the rear spindles 20, 21, carrying the chain driving sprockets 22 not being mounted in line with each other as the rear supports 13 are arranged at an angle for the purposes hereinafter described.

Mounted to the traveling chains 17 are cages which are suitably spaced from each other and are arranged transversely of the frame.

The cages preferably consist of two inverted U shaped supports 23 connecting each end and at the corners a base or bottom 21 of netting or like material. Centrally of the top of the cage supports a loop 25 is formed through which the transverse sup porting spindle 26 passes, the loop 25 being held on the inside by a washer 27 and on the outside by an angle bracket 28 which forms the bearing for the cage supporting spindles, and connect an inwardly projecting lug 29 on the endless traveling chains 17 or the like.

Above the floor or base of the cage is a lid or top 30 consisting of wire netting or the like with a metal edge, the side edges extending rearwardly and then upwardly in the manner of a bell crank 31 and pivotally connected to the inside of a rearwardly projecting arm 32 adjustable by a sleeve 34 and an adjusting nut 33 along the vertical leg of the support to which it is fitted. This adjustment allows of the dipping of containers of different sizes, as the particular sizes are all uniform and the lid or cover 30 is free to move upwardly from its pivot 36. The cover or lid 30 rests on an adjustable sliding ring 37 on the front supports so that it is thus enabled to rest upon the top of the containers and hold them in the cage.

Forwardly of the lid 30 are projecting arms 33 adapted, when the cage is passing downwardly along the front of the apparatus, to engage in angle brackets 39 supporteda short distance from, and at substantially the same angle as, the front edge 40 of the forward belt supports 12 of the main frame. This engagement of the arms 38 with the angle brackets 39 or like guides causes the lid 30 to open from its rear pivots 36 and allows of a sufficient time for the feeding of the containers in the cage, the lid 30 automatically closing on the tops of the containers when the arms 38 clear the opening guides 39 and immediately before the cage enters the hot wax solution.

Formed on the pivot loop 25 is an up wardly projecting curved or cam shaped knooker arm 11 which, when it reaches the top of its rearward travel after the period of drying, engages a transverse bar 42 arranged across the frame at the top and above the rear diagonal supporting arms 13 of the said frame.

The cages normally travel in a vertical position, but when the knocker arm or cams all engage the underside of the cross bar 42 and during the period of contact they cause the cages to swing outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 5 at substantially right. angles so allowing the lid 30 of the cage to swing away from the cage and also allows the dipped and hardened containers to fall by gravity on to the platform 11 into a receiving receptacle.

The cage conveying chains 17are driven in any suitable manner but preferably by a belt or chain 141 from the upper rear spindle 21. of the conveying system to a counter shaft 45 and thence to a suitable source of power.

' In operation the tank is filled with wax which is heated and held in solution at a temperature of preferably between 190 Fahr. and 210 Fahr.

The cages as they travel down the front of the apparatus are open owing to the lid 30 being automatically raised by the front guide members 39 to allow of the feeding of the containers into the cage, and when freed from the guide members, the lid drops and holds the containers 46 which are vertically disposed in the cage.

The cage then passes along and within the paraflin or other wax solution preferably for a period of approximately thirty seconds the speed being geared according to the length of the tank 7, and the cages are so positioned that the top of the containers preferably pass immediately below the level of the Wax solution so allowing of the escape of air forced from the pores or interstices of the containers during the period of saturation or impregnation.

As each cage passes around the lower rear driven spindle 20 it leaves the wax bath and travels to the adjacent top member preferably for a period of approximately ten seconds to allow the containers to harden, after which the cam or knocker arms l1 en gage the fixed transverse rod 42 at the top of the rear traveling point, causing the cage at this point to swing at an angle, so allowing the lid to swing away from contact with the containers 46, which then fall by gravity into a suitable receiver. The cages, after the cam or knocker arms 41 are freed assume their normal vertical position and travel forwardly to again receive fresh containers, and the cycle is continued.

It is to be understood that various modifications and improvements may be embodied to carry the hereindescribed principle into practical effect without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for impregnating paper and like containers having a tank of heated wax solution, means for raising and lowering the tank, pivoted cages for holding the containers, endless conveyer chains carrying the cages and moving same into and out of the solution, hinged covers on the cages, and means for opening said covers to permit of the discharge of the containers.

2. Apparatus for impregnating paper and like containers having a tank of heated wax solution, a cage for carrying the containers, endless conveying means for moving the cage into and out of the solution, projecting means on the cage and a fixed stop for engaging said projecting means and swinging the cage so as to discharge the containers.

3. Apparatus for impregnating paper and like containers, having a tank of heated wax solution, a series of cages for carrying the containers, hinged covers on the cages, endless conveying means for moving said cages into and out of the solution, projecting arms on each cage and a stationary cross-bar carried on the apparatus and located so as to be engaged by said projecting arms in such manner that the cages are opened and are swung so as to discharge the containers therefrom.

4. Apparatus for impregnating paper and like containers having a tank of heated wax solution, a cage for carrying the containers, endless chain conveyor means for moving the cage into and out of the solution, worm gear for raising and lowering the said tank, a hinged cover for the cage, means for automatically opening the cage to permit the introduction and discharge of the containers, and means for automatically swinging the cage so as to open the cover and discharge the container.

5. Apparatus for impregnating paper and.

like containers comprising a frame, a tank positioned along the length thereof and receiving wax solution, mechanical means for raising and lowering the tank, means for heating and maintaining the wax at a desired temperature, spaced endless carrying chains mounted in the frame, a plurality of cages pivotally suspended from the chain and adapted to be automatically immersed in the wax, means for automatically opening the said cages as they pass vertically down the front of the frame, and means for automatically tripping the cages to allow the same to open and deliver by gravity the wax and hardened containers.

6. Apparatus for impregnating paper and like containers having a tank and heated wax solution, cages for carrying the containers, endless conveying means for moving the cages into and out of the solution, hinge connections between the cages and the conveying means, a hinged cover on each of the cages, and adjustable means for supporting said cover, and means for automatically operating said covers to permit the introduction and discharge of the containers.

Signed at Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, this tenth day of September, 1918.

ALBERT EDWARD SHIRLOW.

Witnesses SIDNEY HENDLEY, ANNIE EDWARDS. 

